Green Culture Singapore, a website and discussion forum which I started, celebrated its 4th birthday yesterday. This year, the party was held two days earlier than its actual date so that it falls on a weekend, so as to make it easier for our members to attend.
The celebration was marked by a gathering similar to those organised in previous years. Members of the Green Culture Singapore discussion forum would bring food and drinks for the potluck dinner. It was also a time for everyone who attended, to mingle and to catch up with fellow members. Some members also brought along some plants to sell as well.
This year, we did something different: we gave out souvenirs to all those who came. It was a handmade token of appreciation and a display ornament that was made out of different plant seeds stacked in layers. Many thanks to Lily and Teresa who came forward to help complete the making of these souvenirs. I also want to thank Richmond who has volunteered to help me print the stickers too.
There were two persons who we wanted to thank, namely, Mr Ng Cheow Kheng from the Community in Bloom for his support and collaboration and Phillipe Noor, who is one of our forum moderators who helped to conceptualise the GCS booth during the recent Singapore Garden Festival. We presented to them each a handmade souvenir as well.
We also did not forget to express our thanks to those members who have volunteered their time to help out at the GCS booth at the Festival as well. They include Lynnette (Velvetine), Cindy, Chongren, Xuan Hong (limxuanhong), Eng Ong (Bluefly), Teresa (sasa), Lily (davidia) and Richmond (kiddyduck).
There was a small highlight at this gathering where one of our members brought in a rare fruit, called the gac fruit, from Vietnam. I was asked to share with fellow members who were interested what I knew about it. Many of us also got to eat the carotenoid-rich aril that surrounds each large seed. Some of us also had the opportunity to bring some seeds home to grow. Many thanks to Karen79 who gave us all this pleasant surprise!
This year is a memorable one for me. I am extremely glad and invigorated because I have found a couple more likeminded members who have come forward to join me in this same league to promote gardening. I am heartened every time I noticed three of my young members, namely, Richmond, Chongren and Xuanhong, wearing the GCS collar pins on their sleeves during the occasions where I did not expect them to wear it. I have also seen Eng Ong proudly donning on the GCS t-shirt when he visited various gardening-related occasions.
Last but not least, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to:
1. Fellow GCS members and Mr Ng Cheow Kheng who have made the effort to come down to support the GCS 4th Anniversary Gathering.
2. Greenhorn – for providing some exotic airplants for the gathering.
3. skyfiery and partner – for helping to take the numerous pictures to commemorate this gathering.
4. davidia, chongren, limxuanhong, kiddyduck – for being the advance party to help set things up at the gathering venue.
More pictures of the gathering can be viewed by clicking this link.
